Broward Sheriff Scott Israel is almost certainly toast.
Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis could suspend him minutes after taking office next week in the wake of the devastating criticism of the sheriff’s department by the state commission investigating the Parkland shooting.
Regardless of the actions of DeSantis, who pledged to remove Israel during his campaign, the sheriff is a political Dead Man Walking.
He has lost the support of many of the leading Democrats. He has lost the support of many in the downtown business community. He has lost the support of the Sun-Sentinel, which called for his removal this week after supporting him in April.
If he is not removed from office, Israel will almost certainly face credible challengers in 2020.
Clearly some of the political establishment is already looking for a new sheriff.
DeSantis’ people are being passed names of individuals that the new governor could appoint to replace Israel. The right appointment could become the most powerful political figure in Broward.
The following names were gathered from interviews with Broward insiders over the past week. The caveat is that only DeSantis knows how this mess is going to shake out.
But speculation is the 24/7 pastime of pols. After all, there are three TV cable news networks that thrive on political speculation. And Israel’s fate and who might replace him is all Broward’s political world is talking about as 2018 comes to an end.
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